Mike Budenholzer, Hawks Mutually Agree To Part Ways; Potential Replacement Coaches Named

The Atlanta Hawks announced Wednesday that they and their head coach Mike Budenholzer have agreed to part ways after five years.

Mike Budenholzer out as hawks’ head coach

Budenholzer, a former San Antonio Spurs assistant who worked under Gregg Popovich, led the Hawks to become the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2014-2015 season after the team finished with a 60-22 record. Atlanta made it to the Eastern Conference Finals that year, and Budenholzer won the honor of NBA Coach of the Year.

Since then, the Hawks have struggled. They went 24-58 this season to finish last in their conference, and were tied for the third-weakest record in the NBA. Atlanta missed out on a playoff bid after 10 straight years of reaching the postseason.

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According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, several assistant coaches have already been named as potential replacements for Budenholzer. Among those on the Hawks’ short-list are Charlotte’s Stephen Silas and San Antonio’s Ime Udoka and James Borrego. 

In five seasons with the Hawks, Budenholzer compiled a 213-197 overall record. Per ESPN, he had two years remaining on his contract with the team, and was still owed more than $14 million. During the 17 years he worked with the Spurs as an assistant, he helped lead the team to four NBA championship wins.

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According to ESPN, the Hawks have three first-round picks in the 2018 NBA draft in June, as well as a pick early in the second round.